Qatar is one of the rapidly growing economies in the world. Its new liberalised fiscal policies aim at promoting foreign investment and businesses to drive better economic performance beyond oil and gas. The state of Qatar has amended its policies permitting foreign investors to have 100% ownership in certain sectors including agriculture, industry, health, education, tourism, development and exploitation of natural resources etc.

With an effective strategy in place, you could be building the next successful enterprise in Qatar. The social infrastructure, economy, political and social conditions, banking and financial sector and such have created a supportive environment for new businesses in Qatar. It is now the right time and right place to make your investments or expand your business to. As the economy plans major milestones ahead, it is the right time to start a business in Qatar.

Company Formation Steps in Qatar

Finding A Partner

You need partnership and support from a Qatari to get the fundamental licenses to work in the country. Helpline Group can guide you and help you to gain a Qatari partner(sponsor).

Business Set-Up

Business set-up activities in Qatar may change depending on the industry and type of company. Helpline Group can guide you and help you apply for business set-up.

License Registration

You may need to apply for additional licenses to begin operations of your business in Qatar. Helpline Group can guide you and help you get these licenses in Qatar.

Promise on Quality and Reliability

Our highest priority is in ensuring our commitments are met, and we deliver our promises on time. Hence, you can be assured that your company formation activities will be completed on time, as per your requirements.

Legal Structures of the Company

Ministry of Business and Trade is the authority in Qatar to scrutinize each application on case-by-case before registering any company. The types of companies that a business entrepreneur could consider to form in Qatar are the following:-

Limited Liability Company (LLC)

Foreign Company Branches

Commercial Agencies

Representative Trade Offices

General Partnership Company

Limited Share Partnership Company

Holding Company

Public Shareholding Company

Joint Venture

Ministry of Business and Trade scrutinises each application on a case-by-case basis before the registration of any company in Qatar. Although there is paperwork to be filed, approvals to be obtained and company registration fees to be assessed during this process, the mode of registration offers the opportunity for foreign companies to operate separately.

Limited Liability Company Formation in Qatar

LLC Qatar (Limited Liability Company in Qatar) is the most commonly opted business entity in Qatar. It is a partnership venture with one or more Qatari persons or 100% Qatari-owned entities hold no less than 51% of the entire share capital. Such LLCs are allowed to operate in all sectors of the economy excluding commercial agencies and real estate.

General Partnership Company

General Partnership Company is the most basic form of commercial agreements between two or more individuals for the purpose of commercial activities for setting up a company in Qatar.

Limited Share Partnership Company

A Limited Share Partnership Company is one with at least one or more joint partners and at least four trustee shareholding partners. In this method of Company Registration or Company Formation in Qatar, the minimum share capital of the company is QR.1,000,000.

Holding Company

A shareholding company or limited liability company is a company that has the financial and management control of other companies by owning at least 51% of that company.The minimum requirement to set up such holding companies in Qatar is QR.10 million.

Public Shareholding Company

The law recognises different variants of the public shareholding company, which is also known as a joint stock company or Qatari shareholding company including (1) Public shareholding company-open. (2) Private or closed public shareholding company.

Joint Venture

A Joint venture is a type of company comprised of two or more persons designed to carry out a project in Qatar. As per the law, it is an unincorporated entity without legal personality.

Representative Trade Offices

The Decision of the Ministry of Business and Trade No 142/2006 states that foreign firms may open a representational office without a local partner. Though the representational office may obtain Commercial Registration and employ staff in its own name, it can only operate as a ‘shop window’ to promote a foreign company in Qatar and introduce its products to Qatari companies.

Commercial Agencies

Commercial Agencies is yet another method of registering a company in Qatar in which an agent acts as the exclusive provider of services of a foreign principal or the exclusive seller of foreign-produced goods in Qatar.

Branches

The Foreign Investment Law contains provisions that, subject to an exemption from the Minister of Business & Trade, a branch of a foreign company can be registered in Qatar if that foreign company has a contract in Qatar performing a specific project that “facilitates the performance of a public service or utility”.

Companies enjoying such exemptions are not allowed to conduct any type of commercial activities that are not related to the specific contract for which it is registered. Foreign companies registered under this category do not need a sponsor or Service agent but the Branch Office will be fully taxable unless it is granted a special exemption.

Other Factors You Should Consider for Qatar Business Formation

Real Estate

To undertake the business of property brokerage in Qatar, it is mandatory to acquire a special license from the Ministry of Business and Trade.Companies must list real estate brokerage as one of their activities.

Taxation of companies registered in Qatar

Law no. 11 and 9 of 1993 and 1989 respectively state that companies owned by foreign nationals must pay tax on their activities in Qatar.Companies owned by Qataris or GCC nationals need not pay tax whereas foreign partners must pay the tax of their share in the business.

Tax declarations have to be submitted within four months of the end of the financial year. Companies with profits exceeding QR.100, 000 have to submit audited financial statements certified by an accountant registered in Qatar to support their declaration. Tax rates in Qatar vary from 10% to 35% as per the profit made by the companies.

Get in touch with Helpline Group today to take your goals further.

Our Company Formation Services are available in many countries. To know more about our services, please leave a message, stating your requirements on the left. Alternatively, you may contact us through either of the following methods. Helpline Group associates will contact you as soon as possible. We are also available in WhatsApp (Use the following numbers).